People Like Ourselves by Pamela Jooste

• Tshwane Library and Information Service, Pretoria, South Africa

Julia belongs to the inner circle of Johannesburg high society. It is rumoured that all those not invited to her wedding had to pretend to be out of town at their beach houses to save face. But in the New South Africa, things have changed. The days of tea on the lawn are over and white 'madams' of the affluent suburbs like Julia have to adjust their lives. Julia's husband, Douglas, is a serial adulterer who is no longer willing to pay for the small luxuries she has always enjoyed. Now Douglas's ex-wife, who is never spoken of, has announced her intention of coming to visit from London, bringing, no doubt, her politically correct credentials with her.
People Like Ourselves takes a wry look at the brave new world that is the 'African miracle' today. 'Closure' is the catchword of the day, but here it is applied not to truth and reconciliation as much as to getting rid of your husband and moving to a guarded, gated community.

Pamela Jooste was born in Cape Town, where she still lives. She is the author of four critically acclaimed novels: Frieda and Min, Like Water in Wild Places, People Like Ourselves and Dance with a Poor Man's Daughter, her first novel, which won the Commonwealth Best First Book Award for the African Region; the Samlam Literary Award, and the Book Data South African Booksellers' Choice Award.